Escape to myself

I think Japan saved the best until the last. I had intended to visit Nikko, another UNESCO site but seemed a little thwarted. The train line there was complicated even by Japanese standards and getting a ticket was like an intelligence test which I almost failed but managed in the end. It was worth it.

Set high in the hills on the edge of a mountainous national park about 70 miles North of Tokyo it is the mausoleum of the first Tokugawa shogun and its lavishness eclipses most of the shrines and temples I’ve seen so far. It’s a huge complex and the bold gold and painted decoration is a little overwhelming. Breathtaking in fact. Sculpture, statues and carvings surround you and the setting is absolutely wonderful and the leaves are just beginning to change. The whole site dates from the early 17th century.

After cultural overload coffee and matcha cake at a charming craft cafe. I had a wander back through Nikko town which is small and pretty and not too overwhelmed by tourists many of whom spend a few days discovering the beautiful scenery in the area, something I wish I had time to do as there are many natural wonders… a gorge, a waterfall and more shrines. It’s a magical place on this misty day.